Metallic - 10:365

My daughter bought me a lovely dainty necklace for Christmas and thought it would suit the theme nicely. Funnily we were watching Coronation Street and the subject of a Christmas present of a phone v a necklace (Peter Barlows wife and girlfriends pressies!) and dh was saying it was stupid- the phone was the better present!!!!!!!!! He then tried to get me to say I'd rather have a phonee rather than a necklace- after having received this lovely necklace myself!!!!!!!!

Water- 9:352

Not my favourite subject at the moment!!

We've had an issue with our drains since the New Year. We were told it was a shared drain and had to call our water board out. I waited in, the first set of operatives did nothing- and then despite being guaranteed they would be there within a certain timescale they weren't. We had to escalate it to management level to get anywhere. They came out on Friday evening at 9.30 until around 11. They did say they thought we would probably get a problem again. Yes- by Sunday the drains were blocked again. We called last night and were assured a morning appointment- I called this afternoon and was promised a call back within 2 hours to tell me why they didn't call this morning- not when they would be here.

Anyway- we are putting an official complaint in- and looked up their complaint procedure and guaranteed service standards . They won't give me the CEO's email- so I will email the 'generic' complaint and send it recorded delivery to him aswell!

I was really tempted to use our photos from yesterday- had some lovely shots of our dog swimming and attempting backstroke!!!

It's Monday - what are you reading?

I haven't updated for a while- and unheard of for me I haven't finished a single book this year. My 'ticker' tells me I am 2 books behind target to read 100 in 2012!

I am reading a lovely book by one of my favourite authors and I'm still not getting through it! The secret of Happy Ever After by Lucy Dillon. She's written a few books set in Longhampton and it's nice to pick up on a series.

When story-lover Anna takes over Longhampton's bookshop, it's her dream come true. And not just because it gets her away from her three rowdy stepchildren and their hyperactive Dalmatian.

Unpacking boxes filled with childhood classics, Anna can't shake the feeling that maybe her own fairytale ending isn't all that she'd hoped for. But, as the stories of love, adventure, secret gardens, lost dogs, wicked witches and giant peaches breathe new life into the neglected shop, Anna and her customers get swept up in the magic too.

Even Anna's best friend Michelle - who categorically doesn't believe in true love and handsome princes - isn't immune.

But when secrets from Michelle's own childhood come back to haunt her, and disaster threatens Anna's home, will the wisdom and charm of the stories in the bookshop help the two friends - and those they love - find their own happy ever afters?

Hopefully I will get back into my reading again soon- I have a kindle almost packed full of free books waiting for me!

Cosy 8:365

I've waited all day for Holly to fall asleep on a cushion. She always makes herself comfy- but has been very alert today!!!!!!! She is also usually the keeper of the tv switcher. If it changes on it's own it will be somewhere near Holly!

Walk 1/52 Plantsbrook Nature Reserve

It was a bit of a grey day today- but we took Holly to the local nature reserve where she can swim and chase sticks. Today she wanted to chase a  7 foot log- taller than Guy! She took it in the water and it was so heavy she ended up doing a side stroke and then back stroke- and dogs aren't designed for back stroke!!!!!!! She's still quite active for an old girl- as long as the walk starts in the car and ends up somewhere open!

Drink- 7:365

My daughters morning cuppa along with the 'small' tin of tea bags we bought to keep her happy over Christmas!!! She can hear the kettle being switched on from any room of the house- and is the first thing she has when she gets in from school.

This was my other daughters 'drink' over Christmas- she's sampling lots of different types in order to find a favourite!!!!!!!!

Frost 6:365

This one had me a bit stumped- as I saw it after dh took the car to work that had needed clearing this morning. I was going to take the little cookie christmas tree we picked up in the bargain bin at Sainsburys for dd to make. I was going to add some icing sugar for frost- BUT after following the declutter calendar, any old food stuff was consigned to the bin a couple of days ago. So it's had a frosting of normal sugar. But not really happy with that- so I ran upstairs to dig out some 'frosty' christmas decorations that are waiting for dh to put in the loft. One is a lilliput lane cottage and really sweet, the pine cones came from the 99p shop this year!

Emma's 99p Christmas cookie tree

I'm sure this will be devoured after school. But not by Amy. She has a really bad toothache today. As I am waiting in for the drain men and her actual dentist is in another county I asked dh to get her an emergency appointment. I don't think he phoned until lunchtime as she can't get in until tomorrow. The local pharmacist gave me some tablets that she can alternate to try and keep the pain at bay until then. It seems to be easier- was worse overnight- but think that's always the case with toothache. She did think it was her wisdom teeth coming in- and I remember mine being painful- but the pain is worse today and need to see it isn't a tooth issue. Her last x rays did suggest that one wisdom tooth was lying funny- so possibly if it has started to try to emerge it could be the culprit. She has braces on at the moment- so we might need the orthodontist to remove the lower ones- not sure if the dentist can do that and then we can try to get in to the orthodontist later. I know they said if the wires broke they could reattach them - but it would put the treatment back and she really wants these braces off as soon as they've done their job.

Unfortunately- as part of her bday pressie we'd arranged a full head foil, cut and blowdry for her using a groupon code- which saves a fortune. I phoned them to see IF we could find someone else to go they would accept a change- but she agreed to rearrange the appointment for me. I would have got the wrong time anyway- as I thought it was booked for 9.30, not 9! We haven't had much luck with groupon- the canvas I ordered for Guy still hasn't arrived and it was a struggle to get the log cabin booked.

We still have a drain problem which is getting worse. Severn Trent turned up 4 hours after the emergency 24 hours and stayed 10 mins without even inspecting my drain I think. THey didn't know where the manhole was- and apparently they aren't sent out with useful info like that- OR have the technology to download it. He said they'd send a van out to jet the drains- which is what dynarod said wasn't what was needed.

I phoned up this morning and they said they'd be out THIS MORNING before 2!!!!!!!!! It's now 1.15 and not seen anyone yet. I will be extremely annoyed if they turn up in the dark yet. I am trying not to let anyone use anything apart from the toilet- apart from Amy helpfully had a shower AND put the washing machine on last night. If this is classed as an emergency I dread to think how long you wait for non essential work. I think it is going to mean someone getting annoyed now- and I'm likely to burst into tears rather than get stroppy!!! I think we need to get people out of the house this weekend IF it isn't sorted- as when everyone else is using their houses it's causing our drains to back up.